Machine for feeding boards.



PATENTED NOV. l, 1904.

V. T. JOHNSON.

.MACHINE FOR FEBDING- BOARDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11, 1903.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

PATENTED NOV. l, 1904.

V. T. JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR FEEDING BOARDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.11, 1903.

NO MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

PATBNTE11 NOV. 1, 1904.

V. T. JOHNSON. MNONINN POR PEEDNG BOARDS.

APPLIOATION FILED 1120.11, 1903.

' 4 SHBBTSLSHBBT N0 MODEL.

NO MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

fz' .f 53 3, y 52 13352 PATENTEDNOV. l, 1904. V. T. JOHNSON.

` VMACHINE FOR FEEDING BOARDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEQ. l1, 1903. v

UNITED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT EETCE.,

MACHINE FOR FEEDING BOARDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,939, dated November 1, 1904.

Application filed December 11, 1903. Serial No. 184,750. (No model.)

To @ZZ 'Loli/0m it may concern:

Beit known that I, VICTOR T. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forFeeding Boards; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art tO which it .appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved board or lumber feeding device adapted for use in connection with planers, edgers, horizontal band-saws, resawing-machines, and various other kinds of machines which are to act in one way or the other` upon the boards or strips of lumber delivered thereto.

More specifically stated, my invention has for its object to provide a board or lumber feeding device which will automatically feed boards one after the other and with the one board crowding' the Other,so that no gap is left between them, and in which the initial movement of the one board is controlled or started by the passage of the next preceding or lower board. Such a feed device is especially adapted for feeding box-lumber, wherein composite boards are made up of a plurality of narrow strips placed edge to edge.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved feeding device or machine. Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line m3 w3 of Fig'. l. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line a* of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away; and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line m5 of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away.

T he numeral 1 indicates the heavy framework, shown as made up of timbers and supporting at its top va horizontally-extended bed-plate 2, which latter, as shown, is divided at 3 for a purpose which will presently appear. At the rear end of the frame lto wit, at the right-hand end as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, and S- and at each side of the bed-plate 2 the said frame 1 rigidly supports inverted approximately U-shaped pedestals 4. Crossheads 5 are mounted for vertical adjustments on the prongs or upright portions of the pedestal-casting 4, and, as shown, these crossheads are adjusted by screw-rods 6, having screw-threaded engagements therewith and swiveled at their upper ends in tie-bars 7, secured to the upper ends of the pedestals 4. To impart common rotary movements to the two screw-rods 6, one thereof is provided with a hand-crank 8, and both thereof are provided with sprockets 9, over which sprockets a chain 10 is run.

- A pair of lowerfeed-rollers 11 are suitably journaled in the bases of the pedestals 4, with their upper surfaces located slightly above the plane of the supporting-surface of the feed-table 2. An upper feed-roller 12 is suitably journaled in the vertically-adjustable cross-heads 5. The shafts of the three feedrollers 11 and 12 project at one end and are provided, respectively, with sprocket-wheels 11L and 129. The vertically-adjustable crossheads 5 further carry a plurality of independently-movable spring-pressed rollers or presser-wheels 13, which wheels, as shown, are carried at the lower end of bell-crank levers 14, pivoted on a transverse shaft 15, secured at its ends to the said cross-heads. Springs 16, compressed between the upper ends of the levers 14, and a transverse reaction-bar 17, carried by vertical projections 5LL of said cross-heads, independently press the presser wheels or rollers 13 into action, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The said cross-heads 5 also carry a'transverselyextended stop-plate 18, the ends of which are rigidly secured tothe forward portions of said cross-heads. The lower edge of the stopplate 18 terminates slightly above a horizontal plane which intersects tangentially the lower portions of the feed-rollers 12 and of the presser-wheels 13. Furthermore, the said IOO and at its other end is provided with a sprocket 21, that alines with the heretoforenoted sprockets 111L and 12. Inline with the sprockets just noted, but at the forward end of the machine, is an idle sprocket 22, shown as mounted on the stud of a bracket 23, secured to the frame 1. A long endless sprocketchain 24 runs over the sprockets 12L 21 22 and one of the sprockets 11" and under the other sprockets 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, by reference to which it will be noted that the main portion of the upper part of the chain 24 extends horizontally along the upper portion of the frame 1.

An adjustable box-like head 25 is mounted to slide from front to rear on the bed-plate 2, the same, as shown, having underturned flanges 26 at its sides, which overlap with the edges of the said bed-plate. At its intermediate portion the adjustable head 25 is provided with a depending nut-block 26, that works through the slot 3, formed between the sections of the bed-plate 2. A long adjusting-screw 27 works with screw-threaded engagement through the nut-block 26"l and at its ends is looselyjournaled in transverse portions of the frame l. At its forward ends the said screw-rod 27 is shown as provided with a squared shank 28, to which a wrench or crank may be applied to turn the said screw-rod. engage on opposite sides of the transverse bar 1u of the frame 1 to hold the said screw-rod against endwise movement, so that when it is rotated the head 25 will be Amoved in the one direction or the other, according to the direction of rotation of said screw-rod 27. The rear wall of the head 25 is inclined to afford a cani-acting feed-plate 30, the important function of which will more clearly appear later on.

A transversely-extended rock-shaft 31 eX- tends through and is mounted in suitable bearings 25n, carried by the adjustable head 25. Just outward of the ends of the said head 25 the rock-shaft 31 is provided with arms 32, that are connected by short links 33 to the trunnions 34 of a wedge-shaped impelling-bar 35. The said wedge-shaj'ied impelling-bar 35 slides over the inclined surface of the camplate 30, with its sharp edge turned upward. At one end the rock-shaft 31 is provided with an arm 36, upon which works an adjustable Collars 29 on the said screw-rod works adjustably in slots 41 of said arm. The said bolt 4() is of course provided with a suit1 able nut for setting it in any desired adjustment within the slots 41, formed in the prongs of the said lever 33.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the boards which are to be fed are indicated by the character e, one thereof being shown by full lines and another being' shown by dotted lines.

The operation of the machine or feeding device as an entirety is substantially as follows: The boards .2, whether they are made up of single sections or of a plurality of strips, are placed with their forwardends against the stop-plate 18 and with their rear ends resting on the inclined cam-plate 30. The head 25 should of course be adjusted for the particular length of board which is to be fed, so that the bottommost board can lie flat on the bedplate 2 only when its rear end is pressed between -the forward member of the lower presser-rollers 11 and the overlying yieldinglj7 -mounted presser wheels 13. Hence with this adjustment the second board from the bottom, lthe rear end of which will bear against the stop-board 18, will stand at a slight -incline, with its forwardly-projecting end resting on the inclined cam-plate 30. Otherwise stated, the inclined cam-plate or surface 30 must be so set that its lower extremity stands away from the board-engaging surfaces of the feed-rollers a distance less than the length of the boards which are to be fed to the rollers, while the Lipper extremity of said cam-plate should stand from the said rollers a greater distance than the length of said boards, so that the ou tei-'ends of said boards may be rested thereon while they are held away from the rollers. lith this arrangement Whenever the lower board is fed rearward between the lower rollers 11 and the upper roller 12 and presserwheels 13 entirely beyond the rear end of the second board from the top-to wit, the one indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3-the rear end of the said second board will immediately drop onto the bed-plate 2, and the cam-plate 30, acting on its forward end, will cam the said board thus dropped rearward, so that its rear end will be caught and pressed between the first roller 11 and the overlying presser-wheels 13 and in this way will be taken up and fed rearward by the feed-.rollers, with its rear end abutting against the forward end of the board which has just succeeded it in its rearward movement. To further insure and to make more positive the above-described continuous feeding action of the boards, the wedge-shaped impelling-bar 35 and its actuating means are provided, and this device operates as follows: While the one board is being fed rearward between the feedrollers the sprocket-chain 24, acting on the eccentric sprocket 39, rotates the same, thereby raising the lever 41, arms 39, and the impelling-bar 35. Under this upward move- IOO ros

IZO

ment the said impelling-bar 35 crowds itself along the cam-plate 30 and under the forwardly-projecting end of the second board from the bottom and when it has reached its uppermost position stands with its thick edge pressed against the raised forwardly-projecting end of said second board from the bottom, with the force of the weight 37 on the rockshaft arm 36, tending to force it downward and in turn tending to cause it to force the engaged board rearward. The chain acting' on the sprocket 39 at this time will slip along under the loosely-depending sprocket, but, as is obvious,will be powerless to cause the said sprocket to lower. Vhen, however, the lower board passes beyond the rear end of the said second board and the rear end of the said second board is permitted to drop,the weight 37, acting on the impelling-bar 35, coperates with the cam-plate 30 to force the forwardlyprojecting end of the engaged board downward and rearward, so that the saidboard will immediately follow the preceding board between the feed-rollers. As is evident, when the impelling-bar 35 is thus thrown downward to its extreme lower position the sprocket 39 is also dropped to its lowermost position, so that the chain 9.4L, acting thereon,will again raise the said impelling-bar 35. The said impelling-bar under the action above described has what might be termed a ratchet action on the boards, inasmuch as it slips thereunder in one direction and engages and positively feeds the same in the opposite direction.

The plurality of independently springmounted presser-wheels 13 is especially important when composite boards made up of a plurality of strips are to be fed as entireties between the feed-rollers. In any case, however, they insure frictional engagements with the boards at a great many different points.

By adjusting the bolt Ll() in the slots of the arm 38 the length of stroke which will be given to the impelling-bar 35 may be varied to adapt it for action on boards of different thickness. Again, by vertical adjustments of the cross-heads 5 the upper feed-roller l2 and the presser-wheels 13 may be adjusted for proper action on boards of different thickness. There will be sufficient slack in the chain '24 to permit such vertical adjustments of the cross-heads 5 as are usually necessary; but if greater movements are required than the chain will permit under the arrangement shown a link of the chain may be taken out or one may be added, or, if desired,-a chain-tightener may be provided.

lt has already been plainly indicated that the so-called impelling device or means for producing the initial feed movement of the boards is timed for action by the movement of the particular board which is being fed rearward by the feed rollers. Otherwise stated, the said impelling device or initial feedproducing device is set for action and will come into action as soon as it is permitted to do so by the passage of the lower board out from under the board which is immediately' above it and which is subject to the said impelling device.

From what has been said it will be understood that the machine described is capable of many modifications within the scope of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. The combination with feed -rollers, of means for feeding boards thereto, including an impelling device for action on the lower board, to impart initial feed movements thereto; and mechanism for setting said impelling device under strain, to produce an initial, feed movement of the lower board, as soon as the said board is released by the passage of the preceding board from underneath the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination with feed-rollers and an adjacent stop holding back the upper boards, of an impelling device for action on the lower board, to impart initial feed movements thereto, and means for setting said impelling device under strain to produce the initial feed movement of said lower board, as soon as the said board is released by the passage froml under the same of a preceding board, substantially as described.

3. The combination with feed-rollers and an adjacent stop holding back therefrom all but the lower board, of an inclined cam-surface engaging the other ends of the boards and tending to force the same rearward to said feedrollers, and an impelling device adapted to be set while a lower board is being fed, for action on the next board above, to impart thereto an initial feed movement, as soon as the preceding board has passed from under the same, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a bed-plate and feed-rollers, of a stop in the vicinity of said feed-rollers engaging the ends of the boards TOO and permitting only the lower board to pass to said rollers., an inclined cam-surface engaging and supporting the boards at their other ends and tending to crowd the same toward said rollers, a vibrating impelling-bar working over said cam-surface and acting on the ends of the said boards, and means for setting said impelling-bar for action on an upper board, while the preceding lower board is being fed from under the same, the said impelling device becoming active as soon as the said preceding board has been fed beyond the barengaged board, substantially as described.

5. The combination with feed-rollers and an adjacent stop holding back all but the lower board, of an inclined cam-surface acting on the boards at their other ends and tending to force the same toward said feed-rollers,. a

ISO

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wedge-shaped impellingbar working over said inclined surface, a rock-shaft connected to the ends of said impelling-bar, for reciprocating the same, a weighted arm acting on the said roch-shaft and tending` to lower said impellingdiar to produce an initial feed movement of the engaged board, and means for rocking said shaft to set said impelling-bar for action Onan upper board, while the preceding` lowerboard is being fed.l substantialb7 as described.

6. T he combination with a bed-plate, feedrollers and a sprocketchain driven from said feed-rollers, of a stop in the vicinity of said rollers holding back all but the lower board, an inclined cam-surface engaging the other ends of the boards and tending to crowd the same toward said feed-rollers, a wedgeshaped impelling-bar working over said camsurface, a rock-shaft having connections with the ends of said impelling-bar, a weight acting on said rock-shaft, an arm on said rockshaft, and an eccentric sprocket mounted on said arm and engaging' with said sprocketchain, to raise said impellingbar and set the same for action to impart initial feed movements to the board, under the force of said weight, substantially as described.

7. rlhe combination with feed-rollers and a stop engaging the ends of the boards in the vicinity thereofI and permitting only the lower board to be fed to said rollers, of an impelling-bar operating on the other ends of said boards, to impart initial feed movements thereto, and means :for setting said impellingbar under strain to produce the initial feed movement of said board, as soon as the said board is released by the passage from under the same of thc preceding board, substantially as described.

8. The combination with abcd-plate or support, and feed-rollers, of means for holdingthe boards and delivering the same to said feedrollers one at a time, including an inclined cam-surface, set with its lowerl extremity a less distance, and its upper surface a greater distance, from the board-engaging surfaces of said feed-rollers than the length of the boards being fed, whereby said inclined calnsurface engages and supports said boards at their outer ends and tends to crowd the same forward to said feed-rollers, as soon as a lower board is released by the passage of a preceding board from underneath the saine, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereofl I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VICTOR T. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses:

ELIZABETH H. KELIHER, F. l). MERCHANT. 

